What do you think?
Of Venom and Vengeance
Prepare for a deliciously dark standalone, set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, their empires, and the fate of a lost god.
On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.
Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister's death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.
Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna's mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna's ruin.
But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.
On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.
Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister's death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.
Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna's mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna's ruin.
But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Mikayla Bridge
3 books440 followersMikayla Bridge is a young adult fantasy author living in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up on a small-town farm and completed a BA with honours in political science and international relations. She loves writing books that feel like a triple espresso: high-energy, heart-racing, and might ruin your sleep schedule.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
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Want to Read
March 18, 2026Thank you so much to the editor for reaching out with an ARC 💚🖤 excited to read this!! Once I get caught up on arcs 😅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book is set in the Of Flame and Fury world, but the plot follows different characters.
I wasn't particularly disappointed because I knew it would be something different going in. It took me a little time to get into it and adjust, but before I knew it, I was almost done. It was a quick, easy read, and the plot moved at a steady pace. The book is written from dual POVs, which I really like.
The atmosphere is completely different from Of Flame and Fury—there are more intrigues, magic, and searching for answers here. Phoenixes are only mentioned, but there are other types of creatures.
The romance was unusual for me. It’s kind of a love triangle where I didn’t fully understand who the FMC would end up with, though many would probably say it was obvious (honestly, the plot twist I came up with in my head would have been way more interesting). But I wouldn't say the ending was a disappointment; I just never really felt the chemistry or connection between the characters. Overall, it wasn't bad—it just lacked that emotional spark for me, but that’s just a personal preference.
The ending still leaves you with questions and open doors, even though it's supposed to be a standalone book 🤔
3.5/5⭐️
This book is set in the Of Flame and Fury world, but the plot follows different characters.
I wasn't particularly disappointed because I knew it would be something different going in. It took me a little time to get into it and adjust, but before I knew it, I was almost done. It was a quick, easy read, and the plot moved at a steady pace. The book is written from dual POVs, which I really like.
The atmosphere is completely different from Of Flame and Fury—there are more intrigues, magic, and searching for answers here. Phoenixes are only mentioned, but there are other types of creatures.
The romance was unusual for me. It’s kind of a love triangle where I didn’t fully understand who the FMC would end up with, though many would probably say it was obvious (honestly, the plot twist I came up with in my head would have been way more interesting). But I wouldn't say the ending was a disappointment; I just never really felt the chemistry or connection between the characters. Overall, it wasn't bad—it just lacked that emotional spark for me, but that’s just a personal preference.
The ending still leaves you with questions and open doors, even though it's supposed to be a standalone book 🤔
3.5/5⭐️
April 23, 2026
I was so excited to see another book in this world that when the publisher sent me an email I was like immediately yes.
this is 100% a me problem. I didn’t realize it was a standalone in the same work. I was expecting it to be book 2. So I was disappointed but again that’s 100% on me.
This however didn’t hit the way Of Flame and Fury did. I didn’t feel connect or feel as interested in the characters as I wanted to. Especially how I felt ending book one. But maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it for now I would say it’s a 3 star read. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t feel like the right book for me.
That being said I will 100000000% be continuing the series because I love the way Mikayla writes and I love this world.
Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for the ebook.
this is 100% a me problem. I didn’t realize it was a standalone in the same work. I was expecting it to be book 2. So I was disappointed but again that’s 100% on me.
This however didn’t hit the way Of Flame and Fury did. I didn’t feel connect or feel as interested in the characters as I wanted to. Especially how I felt ending book one. But maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it for now I would say it’s a 3 star read. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t feel like the right book for me.
That being said I will 100000000% be continuing the series because I love the way Mikayla writes and I love this world.
Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for the ebook.
January 21, 2026
°˖✿˚⋆I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review⋆˚✿˖°
3.5 ✨
🫑
I tore right through this. Of Venom and Vengeance was fast paced, and action packed. The romance fell a bit flat for me, with both Inna's interests. The first half of the book was fabulous. The tension while planning the heist and the actual heist itself. Amazing. Super fun to read. The last half was not so much. It dragged, and as I said earlier, the romance fell flat. The characters didn't have any chemistry. Celesse at least had a bit of tension because of her actions and her history with Inna.
Overall, decent fast paced read with some good action.
♡𝓅𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹♡
I LOVED Of Flame and Fury and I am so grateful to have gotten an arc for Of Venom and Vengeance. I cannot WAIT to get back into this world.
°˖✿˚⋆Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc°˖✿˚⋆
July 25, 2026
‘of venom and vengeance’ is a standalone in the ‘of flame and fury’ universe, following different characters and a completely different plot.
although I enjoyed my time with this story, it took me a bit to fully become immersed and engaged with the story, which was not the case with ‘of flame and fury.’ I really enjoy mikayla bridge’s writing and the types of characters she writes for a YA novel. they are intelligent, complex, and emotional and I appreciate that the author doesn’t strip away those characteristics to make a more digestible YA story.
I will say, I wasn’t fully convinced by the romance and I actually had a hard time at first figuring out who the love interest was going to be lol because both choices were strong candidates. I can see potential between the characters when they do end up together, but I have a hard time believing they were in love by that point. for me personally, not every story has to end with the characters making love declarations, especially if the timeline doesn’t add up.
overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to more stories in this universe and from this author! thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
although I enjoyed my time with this story, it took me a bit to fully become immersed and engaged with the story, which was not the case with ‘of flame and fury.’ I really enjoy mikayla bridge’s writing and the types of characters she writes for a YA novel. they are intelligent, complex, and emotional and I appreciate that the author doesn’t strip away those characteristics to make a more digestible YA story.
I will say, I wasn’t fully convinced by the romance and I actually had a hard time at first figuring out who the love interest was going to be lol because both choices were strong candidates. I can see potential between the characters when they do end up together, but I have a hard time believing they were in love by that point. for me personally, not every story has to end with the characters making love declarations, especially if the timeline doesn’t add up.
overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to more stories in this universe and from this author! thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2026
um YEAH that’s how you freaking do it
I’ll have a more coherent review at some point…. But oh my gosh that was good
I mean, nearly every book I’ve read pubbed in the last couple years has let me down in some way. A lot of times it’s the ending. Other times it’s the writing style, or development of plot or characters - books are rushed, reliant on tropes with no flesh to them at all, etc.
but THIS. This is how you write, edit, and publish a book. A YA fantasy book with romance, to be SPECIFIC.
The two MCs are nuanced and morally grey, have a lot to figure out about themselves, etc. They fit TOGETHER like puzzle pieces, their dark and light sides meeting together to challenge and mesh. Lowkey……. They reminded me of Jude and Cardan. HIGHEST COMPLIMENT I CAN GIVE
the world is so interesting too. Just the right amount of fleshed out, offering new creatures and magic every step of the way.
The plot felt like nothing I had previously read, and as I mentioned, it doesn’t lean on tropes expecting readers to fill in gaps of actual character/plot/romantic development.
I am FERAL over this book. Stuck EVERY LANDING. I LOVED IT. I can’t wait to go backwards and read of flame and fury. WOW I will be thinking about this one for a while 😭😭😭
I’ll have a more coherent review at some point…. But oh my gosh that was good
I mean, nearly every book I’ve read pubbed in the last couple years has let me down in some way. A lot of times it’s the ending. Other times it’s the writing style, or development of plot or characters - books are rushed, reliant on tropes with no flesh to them at all, etc.
but THIS. This is how you write, edit, and publish a book. A YA fantasy book with romance, to be SPECIFIC.
The two MCs are nuanced and morally grey, have a lot to figure out about themselves, etc. They fit TOGETHER like puzzle pieces, their dark and light sides meeting together to challenge and mesh. Lowkey……. They reminded me of Jude and Cardan. HIGHEST COMPLIMENT I CAN GIVE
the world is so interesting too. Just the right amount of fleshed out, offering new creatures and magic every step of the way.
The plot felt like nothing I had previously read, and as I mentioned, it doesn’t lean on tropes expecting readers to fill in gaps of actual character/plot/romantic development.
I am FERAL over this book. Stuck EVERY LANDING. I LOVED IT. I can’t wait to go backwards and read of flame and fury. WOW I will be thinking about this one for a while 😭😭😭
July 15, 2026
I read this with the audiobook and ebook in tandem.
I really loved Bridge's first book, Of Flame and Fury, and this one was highly anticipated for me. Sadly, it fell short. This one had some cadence issues, and I didn't feel connected to the characters. The way they met up and started working together felt forced. Several of the scenes I had to reread to understand what was going on because the transitions were so jarring. The book was lackluster most of the way through, with occasional interesting moments and twists, but for the most part, I was bored and unengaged with the story. Even the slow-burn romance was meh. I really wanted to like this, but it needed a little more time to cook.
Warnings: animal cruelty (sprites), cursing, violence, death, murder, abuse, family loss, gambling, addictive substances.
I really loved Bridge's first book, Of Flame and Fury, and this one was highly anticipated for me. Sadly, it fell short. This one had some cadence issues, and I didn't feel connected to the characters. The way they met up and started working together felt forced. Several of the scenes I had to reread to understand what was going on because the transitions were so jarring. The book was lackluster most of the way through, with occasional interesting moments and twists, but for the most part, I was bored and unengaged with the story. Even the slow-burn romance was meh. I really wanted to like this, but it needed a little more time to cook.
Warnings: animal cruelty (sprites), cursing, violence, death, murder, abuse, family loss, gambling, addictive substances.
May 31, 2026
Of Venom and Vengeance was such a fun read for me.
I went into this without having read Of Flame and Fury, and I had no trouble following along. It’s set in the same world but it worked really well as a standalone for me and I never felt lost.
This has crime family politics, illusion magic, buried secrets, a sleeping serpent god and a mystery that kept me hooked the whole way through. The world felt dark and atmospheric without being overly complicated and I flew through it way faster than I expected.
The strongest part for me was definitely the mystery. I loved slowly piecing everything together alongside the characters, and the serpent god storyline especially kept me invested. The tension between Inna and Rylan was also really well done and kept things interesting from the beginning.
The tension between Inna and Rylan was another highlight. Their dynamic felt sharp from the start, with that constant mix of suspicion, revenge, and chemistry underneath everything. I also liked that neither of them felt fully good or fully innocent ITS LIKE everyone in this story feels like they’re hiding something.
It definitely reads YA tonally, which worked for me, and while I would’ve loved a little more depth in parts of the worldbuilding, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall this was fast paced, entertaining and full of secrets, dangerous magic and revenge. If you like dark fantasy with mystery at the centre and romance woven through it, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
I went into this without having read Of Flame and Fury, and I had no trouble following along. It’s set in the same world but it worked really well as a standalone for me and I never felt lost.
This has crime family politics, illusion magic, buried secrets, a sleeping serpent god and a mystery that kept me hooked the whole way through. The world felt dark and atmospheric without being overly complicated and I flew through it way faster than I expected.
The strongest part for me was definitely the mystery. I loved slowly piecing everything together alongside the characters, and the serpent god storyline especially kept me invested. The tension between Inna and Rylan was also really well done and kept things interesting from the beginning.
The tension between Inna and Rylan was another highlight. Their dynamic felt sharp from the start, with that constant mix of suspicion, revenge, and chemistry underneath everything. I also liked that neither of them felt fully good or fully innocent ITS LIKE everyone in this story feels like they’re hiding something.
It definitely reads YA tonally, which worked for me, and while I would’ve loved a little more depth in parts of the worldbuilding, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall this was fast paced, entertaining and full of secrets, dangerous magic and revenge. If you like dark fantasy with mystery at the centre and romance woven through it, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
August 12, 2026
First and foremost I’d like to thank NetGalley & Macmillan for the amazing opportunity of allowing me to read this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
Going into this book I had read the previous book in this world and had found it a solid ya adventure set in a world of gods and monsters.
This one winded up being the same with my feelings leaning towards the negative. Hovering around a 3 star read.
When I started this book I enjoyed how fast paced this novel was and how flowed like a quickly moving river.
But as it got closer to the last half it seemed to lose focus on its plot and wrapped up things a little too quickly for my taste.
Would I recommend it? Sure, everyone can have a different opinion and that’s okay.
Going into this book I had read the previous book in this world and had found it a solid ya adventure set in a world of gods and monsters.
This one winded up being the same with my feelings leaning towards the negative. Hovering around a 3 star read.
When I started this book I enjoyed how fast paced this novel was and how flowed like a quickly moving river.
But as it got closer to the last half it seemed to lose focus on its plot and wrapped up things a little too quickly for my taste.
Would I recommend it? Sure, everyone can have a different opinion and that’s okay.
February 9, 2026
This felt a bit long-winded, with a predictable plot and pretty bland characters. The romance was rushed, which didn’t really work for me. I did like the world, but I wish we’d gotten more out of it. Compared to the first book in the series, this one was a bit of a letdown. 2.75 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Although this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, it’s set in a different time and location and truly works well as a stand-alone. Some prior events are lightly referenced but never confusing.
The worldbuilding around the creatures and magic was engaging, and there are multiple villains within the story. By the end, I was still trying to decide whether the humans or the gods were the bigger threat.
That said, the ending is a true cliffhanger, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of these characters.
Although this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, it’s set in a different time and location and truly works well as a stand-alone. Some prior events are lightly referenced but never confusing.
The worldbuilding around the creatures and magic was engaging, and there are multiple villains within the story. By the end, I was still trying to decide whether the humans or the gods were the bigger threat.
That said, the ending is a true cliffhanger, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of these characters.
July 10, 2026
Of Venom and Vengeance ✨Review ✨ Thank you @fiercereads @macmillan.audio for the gifted book + audiobook!
Of Venom and Vengeance
by Mikayla Bridge
narrated by Safiyya Ingar
out now!
On an island ruled by crime and deadly secrets, Inna is the perfect heir to the powerful Pallo family—but behind her polished facade, she’s determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s death. Meanwhile, Rylan, a gifted thief seeking revenge against Inna’s family, plans to steal an ancient riddle leading to the legendary Serpent King, whose awakening grants any wish. When their paths collide, they’re forced into a dangerous alliance fueled by deception, revenge, and undeniable attraction. But as feelings grow, they’ll have to decide if love is worth risking everything.
My thoughts 💭:
If you’re looking for a fantasy romance you can binge in a weekend, this one is worth picking up! This was an entertaining read! The pacing kept me hooked for most of the book, and the audiobook was fantastic. The narrator absolutely crushed it and had me invested that I finished the entire book in just two sittings. I didn’t realize this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury (which is still on my TBR), but it ended up being a really fun introduction to the world. I do wish there had been a little more action, but I completely bought into the romance, and the chemistry between the characters, along with the mystery, kept me invested. Overall, a fun fantasy romance, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author!
What to expect👇🏽
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🐍 Ancient magic & deadly secrets
💎 Crime family politics
🗡️ Forced alliance
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🎧 Great audiobook
Happy reading 📖🎧✨
Of Venom and Vengeance
by Mikayla Bridge
narrated by Safiyya Ingar
out now!
On an island ruled by crime and deadly secrets, Inna is the perfect heir to the powerful Pallo family—but behind her polished facade, she’s determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s death. Meanwhile, Rylan, a gifted thief seeking revenge against Inna’s family, plans to steal an ancient riddle leading to the legendary Serpent King, whose awakening grants any wish. When their paths collide, they’re forced into a dangerous alliance fueled by deception, revenge, and undeniable attraction. But as feelings grow, they’ll have to decide if love is worth risking everything.
My thoughts 💭:
If you’re looking for a fantasy romance you can binge in a weekend, this one is worth picking up! This was an entertaining read! The pacing kept me hooked for most of the book, and the audiobook was fantastic. The narrator absolutely crushed it and had me invested that I finished the entire book in just two sittings. I didn’t realize this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury (which is still on my TBR), but it ended up being a really fun introduction to the world. I do wish there had been a little more action, but I completely bought into the romance, and the chemistry between the characters, along with the mystery, kept me invested. Overall, a fun fantasy romance, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author!
What to expect👇🏽
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🐍 Ancient magic & deadly secrets
💎 Crime family politics
🗡️ Forced alliance
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🎧 Great audiobook
Happy reading 📖🎧✨
July 22, 2026
“I don’t think hearts heal. They just repurpose the pain.”
Overall: 4.5/5
Spice: 0/5
Tropes/themes: Thief & criminal heiress ~ Dual POV ~ Bisexuality representation ~ Myths & Heists ~ Sprite magic & Gods
Mikayla does it again, folks!!!! 👏 It's so exciting to be back in the world she's built. I'm honestly so impressed because both of her novels, Of Flame and Fury and now Of Venom and Vengeance, feel so unique. They're such a breath of fresh air, and she's officially solidified her spot as an auto-buy author for me!
While this is an interconnected standalone, you don't need to read Of Flame and Fury first to enjoy it. The little Easter eggs and references are a fun bonus, but it's not required reading.
Set in the same world, this story follows a criminal heiress and a vengeful thief who form an uneasy alliance to find a lost god.
The magic system was so interesting! I loved the different sprite magic and the lore behind it all. Learning more about the world as the story unfolded was such a fun experience, and the world-building was just 🤌🤌 The heist, riddles, and adventures made everything feel even more magical.
The dynamic between Inna and Rylan is one of my favorite kind of tropes: "I don't trust you, but I'm forced to work with you because I have no other choice"… and then, of course, they catch feelings. It gets me every. single. time. 🤭
I don't think I loved this one quite as much as Of Flame and Fury, but that's mostly because I loooove phoenixes and I'm just not as big a fan of snakes. 🤣 That said, this was still a fantastic read!
I could totally see Mikayla writing more interconnected standalones in this world, and i'm all for it!!!
A big thank you to @fiercereads for the ARC through NetGalley!
Overall: 4.5/5
Spice: 0/5
Tropes/themes: Thief & criminal heiress ~ Dual POV ~ Bisexuality representation ~ Myths & Heists ~ Sprite magic & Gods
Mikayla does it again, folks!!!! 👏 It's so exciting to be back in the world she's built. I'm honestly so impressed because both of her novels, Of Flame and Fury and now Of Venom and Vengeance, feel so unique. They're such a breath of fresh air, and she's officially solidified her spot as an auto-buy author for me!
While this is an interconnected standalone, you don't need to read Of Flame and Fury first to enjoy it. The little Easter eggs and references are a fun bonus, but it's not required reading.
Set in the same world, this story follows a criminal heiress and a vengeful thief who form an uneasy alliance to find a lost god.
The magic system was so interesting! I loved the different sprite magic and the lore behind it all. Learning more about the world as the story unfolded was such a fun experience, and the world-building was just 🤌🤌 The heist, riddles, and adventures made everything feel even more magical.
The dynamic between Inna and Rylan is one of my favorite kind of tropes: "I don't trust you, but I'm forced to work with you because I have no other choice"… and then, of course, they catch feelings. It gets me every. single. time. 🤭
I don't think I loved this one quite as much as Of Flame and Fury, but that's mostly because I loooove phoenixes and I'm just not as big a fan of snakes. 🤣 That said, this was still a fantastic read!
I could totally see Mikayla writing more interconnected standalones in this world, and i'm all for it!!!
A big thank you to @fiercereads for the ARC through NetGalley!
July 4, 2026
⭐3 🌶️1
So I went into this a little blind because I didn't realize at first that it was a standalone set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury. So the new story and new characters threw me at first.
The story follows Inna and Rylan. Inna is the heiress to the Pallo family and she is trying to find out the mystery behind her sisters death. Rylan is a very skilled theif who is looking for revenge for his family. He has a dark plan in order to do this but he gets caught by Inna along the way.
I really wanted to love this story because the premise sounded so good. But I just really struggled to be invested in the characters and the storyline. How it was written just didn't pull me in as much as I hoped. I felt like there were a lot of parts where the pace was slow and not as much action. I also was slightly confused by the magic system, I wish it would have been more thoroughly explained so I could better wrap my head around what was happening.
Overall, I probably will not be continuing this series. I feel like most fantasy needs more than one book to develop, so the fact that these books are standalones does not appeal to me as much as an ongoing series would.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian for the eARC.
So I went into this a little blind because I didn't realize at first that it was a standalone set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury. So the new story and new characters threw me at first.
The story follows Inna and Rylan. Inna is the heiress to the Pallo family and she is trying to find out the mystery behind her sisters death. Rylan is a very skilled theif who is looking for revenge for his family. He has a dark plan in order to do this but he gets caught by Inna along the way.
I really wanted to love this story because the premise sounded so good. But I just really struggled to be invested in the characters and the storyline. How it was written just didn't pull me in as much as I hoped. I felt like there were a lot of parts where the pace was slow and not as much action. I also was slightly confused by the magic system, I wish it would have been more thoroughly explained so I could better wrap my head around what was happening.
Overall, I probably will not be continuing this series. I feel like most fantasy needs more than one book to develop, so the fact that these books are standalones does not appeal to me as much as an ongoing series would.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am of a very small group of people who enjoyed the previous book (in the same universe), so I am very happy that NetGalley and the publishr allowed me another dive into this world.
On a different continent we have a city with a mafia like family who collect sprites, harvest their powers, use the powers for self or for pleasure in their gambing clubs. Run by the protagonist's mother and brother (uncle), they are feared by all. The only person she can trust is her bodyguard (who she has known from childhood and squashed a relationship with). Her elder sister was killed in kidnapping they both were involved in and she suspects there is something wrong with how it went down and that her family is withholding information.
The love interest is a living heir of a family that the mother killed long ago. Swearing revenge, and with power from the sprites, he has returned to the city and will discover the vault in which keeps his family's journal, the one that holds mysterious information about the Serpent King. Legend says he grants a wish for a price.
The author pitched this as 50's Vegas story with a slow burn romance between a thief and a heiress. I loved their romance and how it didn't seem forced. They learned to work together to get the things they wanted. There was danger, mystery, adventure, and death.
The reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is how the world building is still a little vague on how it computers exist alongside such fantasy elements. But it doesn't really detract from the story.
All in all, I really liked this and I wouldn't mind seeing them again in another story or as supporting characters with the phoenix racer plot.
On a different continent we have a city with a mafia like family who collect sprites, harvest their powers, use the powers for self or for pleasure in their gambing clubs. Run by the protagonist's mother and brother (uncle), they are feared by all. The only person she can trust is her bodyguard (who she has known from childhood and squashed a relationship with). Her elder sister was killed in kidnapping they both were involved in and she suspects there is something wrong with how it went down and that her family is withholding information.
The love interest is a living heir of a family that the mother killed long ago. Swearing revenge, and with power from the sprites, he has returned to the city and will discover the vault in which keeps his family's journal, the one that holds mysterious information about the Serpent King. Legend says he grants a wish for a price.
The author pitched this as 50's Vegas story with a slow burn romance between a thief and a heiress. I loved their romance and how it didn't seem forced. They learned to work together to get the things they wanted. There was danger, mystery, adventure, and death.
The reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is how the world building is still a little vague on how it computers exist alongside such fantasy elements. But it doesn't really detract from the story.
All in all, I really liked this and I wouldn't mind seeing them again in another story or as supporting characters with the phoenix racer plot.
Did Not Finish
June 30, 2026DNF @ 36%
I was expecting this to be a little more connected to Of Flame and Fury because I really enjoyed that one. There is a slight mention to it once up to the point I read, but it seems they are in different countries or continents maybe.
Personally, I've been struggling with YA books lately, so I think that's why this was a struggle for me. I read up to this point and couldn't get connected to the characters and actually felt they were very annoying. The romance between the FMC and the MMC was just starting to build and definitely had that enemies to lovers vibe. But the FMC also has her ex girlfriend hanging around being a third wheel and yet they're constantly checking each other out or kissing. I'm not sure what was happening there and I scoured the internet and reviews to see if it was a why choose/poly relationship in the end (could mostly just find she was a third wheel). I just really didn't like that dynamic between the three of them.
I really liked the Pixies and their magic and that was one thing keeping me going.
Thank you Macmillan for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
DNF date: 6/30/26, Release date: 7/7/26
I was expecting this to be a little more connected to Of Flame and Fury because I really enjoyed that one. There is a slight mention to it once up to the point I read, but it seems they are in different countries or continents maybe.
Personally, I've been struggling with YA books lately, so I think that's why this was a struggle for me. I read up to this point and couldn't get connected to the characters and actually felt they were very annoying. The romance between the FMC and the MMC was just starting to build and definitely had that enemies to lovers vibe. But the FMC also has her ex girlfriend hanging around being a third wheel and yet they're constantly checking each other out or kissing. I'm not sure what was happening there and I scoured the internet and reviews to see if it was a why choose/poly relationship in the end (could mostly just find she was a third wheel). I just really didn't like that dynamic between the three of them.
I really liked the Pixies and their magic and that was one thing keeping me going.
Thank you Macmillan for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
DNF date: 6/30/26, Release date: 7/7/26
June 24, 2026
I absolutely loved Of Venom and Vengeance.
Returning to this world felt like coming home, and I was so happy to be back. Mikayla Bridge’s writing is absolutely spectacular—beautiful, immersive, and impossible to put down. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the magic, the danger, and the secrets hidden beneath the surface.
I loved Inna and Rylan’s story. Their complicated history, growing attraction, and uneasy alliance kept me turning pages long into the night. The tension between revenge and love was so well done, and I found myself rooting for them even when everything seemed stacked against them.
The world remains just as captivating as it was in Of Flame and Fury, with rich lore, high stakes, and plenty of twists along the way. The mystery surrounding Inna’s sister and the legend of the Serpent King added so much intrigue to the story.
If you love enemies-to-lovers, dangerous magic, dark family secrets, and lush fantasy worlds, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I loved every minute of it.
Returning to this world felt like coming home, and I was so happy to be back. Mikayla Bridge’s writing is absolutely spectacular—beautiful, immersive, and impossible to put down. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the magic, the danger, and the secrets hidden beneath the surface.
I loved Inna and Rylan’s story. Their complicated history, growing attraction, and uneasy alliance kept me turning pages long into the night. The tension between revenge and love was so well done, and I found myself rooting for them even when everything seemed stacked against them.
The world remains just as captivating as it was in Of Flame and Fury, with rich lore, high stakes, and plenty of twists along the way. The mystery surrounding Inna’s sister and the legend of the Serpent King added so much intrigue to the story.
If you love enemies-to-lovers, dangerous magic, dark family secrets, and lush fantasy worlds, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I loved every minute of it.
July 7, 2026
Someone tell me why the Serpent King sounded like Ana Faris from House Bunny?
I gotta say, this was a little bit of a let down after Of Flame and Fury. This one was just not nearly as action packed or fast paced. I found I wasn’t as interested in the Sprites as I was the Phoenixes. And while I love a good heist, I found that this wasn’t as gripping and attention-grabbing.
By no means am I saying the writing is bad or the plot was lacking, it just didn’t pack nearly the same punch as Of Flame and Fury, and for me personally, I think that impacted my experience a lot.
And some notes on the audiobook. I hope this isn’t the finished product. The editing was really choppy and you could so obviously tell when something was re-recorded. Every time it happened, it really took jarred me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook!
I gotta say, this was a little bit of a let down after Of Flame and Fury. This one was just not nearly as action packed or fast paced. I found I wasn’t as interested in the Sprites as I was the Phoenixes. And while I love a good heist, I found that this wasn’t as gripping and attention-grabbing.
By no means am I saying the writing is bad or the plot was lacking, it just didn’t pack nearly the same punch as Of Flame and Fury, and for me personally, I think that impacted my experience a lot.
And some notes on the audiobook. I hope this isn’t the finished product. The editing was really choppy and you could so obviously tell when something was re-recorded. Every time it happened, it really took jarred me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook!
July 10, 2026
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC*
This starts off pretty fast paced and barely lets up-unless we're getting backstory of our main characters. I appreciate the hidden elements in here (the secrets, the lies, the betrayal), but I do also think they were pretty glaringly obvious. I also would have like to see this as a FF enemies to lovers romance because of Inna's past relationship-big fan of women thieves.
I'm not sure this, to me, was as good as the first book in this series. I did enjoy it, but I just feel like it was missing something.
I do think, thought, it is a great YA/border Middle to High School grade read and I'd be interested in continuing on in the series.
This starts off pretty fast paced and barely lets up-unless we're getting backstory of our main characters. I appreciate the hidden elements in here (the secrets, the lies, the betrayal), but I do also think they were pretty glaringly obvious. I also would have like to see this as a FF enemies to lovers romance because of Inna's past relationship-big fan of women thieves.
I'm not sure this, to me, was as good as the first book in this series. I did enjoy it, but I just feel like it was missing something.
I do think, thought, it is a great YA/border Middle to High School grade read and I'd be interested in continuing on in the series.
September 14, 2026
Loved this new standalone!!! COMPLETELY different from Of Flame and Fury. I really enjoyed the concept of the sprites (I wish we would’ve explored them even more, but I also understand why they were somewhat kept at arm’s length for most of the book)!
I agree with others than the romance felt slightly rushed, but it’s difficult to balance with so many other elements and plotlines happening in a standalone, and thankful it still didn’t come across as insta-loved.
Looking forward to the next spin-off in this world!
I agree with others than the romance felt slightly rushed, but it’s difficult to balance with so many other elements and plotlines happening in a standalone, and thankful it still didn’t come across as insta-loved.
Looking forward to the next spin-off in this world!
July 13, 2026
4.4/5
I really enjoyed this one! It is set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury but it honestly felt SO different. I preferred this premise and these characters more! The magic coming from sprites, the Serpent King search, the romance all felt better to me in this book than the first!
Phoenixes and phoenix racing were still briefly mentioned here but none of the story focused on that. The end to this one really made me feel like there should be another book relating to this part of the story, but it is labeled as a standalone so I guess not.
Overall this was a fun read for me and I will continue to read books set in this world!
I really enjoyed this one! It is set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury but it honestly felt SO different. I preferred this premise and these characters more! The magic coming from sprites, the Serpent King search, the romance all felt better to me in this book than the first!
Phoenixes and phoenix racing were still briefly mentioned here but none of the story focused on that. The end to this one really made me feel like there should be another book relating to this part of the story, but it is labeled as a standalone so I guess not.
Overall this was a fun read for me and I will continue to read books set in this world!
March 2, 2026
Of Venom and Vengeance – Mikayla Bridge
Crime family heiress. Illusion-wielding thief. A sleeping serpent god.
This one hisses.
Inna Pallo looks polished and untouchable — but beneath the glamour, she’s unraveling a lie that cost her sister’s life. Rylan is hunting revenge for a family she can never give back. And when their paths collide over an ancient riddle tied to a slumbering god… destruction feels inevitable.
The tension? Immediate. Volatile. Dangerous.
This isn’t soft romance. It’s two wounded people circling each other with knives behind their backs and desire in their eyes. Everyone is morally gray. Everyone has blood on their hands. And the magic feels like it could swallow them whole.
Power. Spectacle. Cruelty. Revenge dressed as destiny.
3.75
Crime family heiress. Illusion-wielding thief. A sleeping serpent god.
This one hisses.
Inna Pallo looks polished and untouchable — but beneath the glamour, she’s unraveling a lie that cost her sister’s life. Rylan is hunting revenge for a family she can never give back. And when their paths collide over an ancient riddle tied to a slumbering god… destruction feels inevitable.
The tension? Immediate. Volatile. Dangerous.
This isn’t soft romance. It’s two wounded people circling each other with knives behind their backs and desire in their eyes. Everyone is morally gray. Everyone has blood on their hands. And the magic feels like it could swallow them whole.
Power. Spectacle. Cruelty. Revenge dressed as destiny.
3.75
August 5, 2026
Enemies-to-lovers, romantasy, magic, illusions, a lost god, and desires to fill their hearts, the journey taken in Mikayla Bridge's "Of Venom and Vengeance" is an interesting one to follow!
Brave, kind, and fierce heirness Inna Pallo is the next in line to take over her mother's empire. However, all she really cares about is finding out what really happened to her deceased sister. Meanwhile, Rylan seeks both revenge from Inna's family, who murdered his family, and power. He will stop at nothing to make his goals come true, including finding the sleeping god, the Serpent King.
When the two stumble upon each other, Inna and Rylan formulate a plan and an alliance. They will help each other to find what they desire, without truly trusting one another.
Inna's world is turned upside down when the people she thought she could trust betray her, and those she didn't trust become reliable. Follow these two young adults as they journey together in an exciting and dangerous world. Also, do not forget - be aware of the sprites! They look small and harmless, but do not be fooled.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was learning about the magical creature, sprites. I have not read many books that either include and/or feature these potential lethal magical creatures and I was excited to learn more about them. I loved how they can be both sweet and loyal, but also vicious and dangerous. It was so much fun to learn that they may share magic with a human as long as the human shares his/her blood with them. The idea of hunting them for sport and being misunderstood was also a fascinating tidbit.
Told in dual perspectives, Inna and Rylan, the readers learn the inner thoughts and true feelings of both. It was easy to enjoy both characters for most of the book. Being able to understand that both felt very similar to each other and how their feelings progressed in a parallel way was neat to read. Their eventual fulfillment of the enemies-to-lovers trope was more-or-less satisfying.
I wasn't the biggest fan of a small love triangle here. Yes, Inna's previous girlfriend and her broke up, there were several moments where Inna believed they still had feelings toward one another. As a reader, it felt like they may or may not get back together. It was all unnecessary since they don't return back together. In general, it didn't seem really necessary, especially since it's one of my least favorite tropes in a book.
One of the other plot areas that felt off was the motivation for Inna to connect with Rylan in order to find out the truth about her sister's death. Though I do understand wanting to know the truth, trusting someone you don't know and risking your own severe consequences if you are caught didn't seem worth it. Never mind the fact that the beginning part of this journey in finding answers was spent in basically an archives section of a building and took way too long to get out of there.
I did enjoy the ending sequence and the plot did seem to pick up pace toward the end, which is good. However, there does seem to be some plot holes. The reader finds out who murdered Inna's sister, but it is unclear the motivation. Without giving too much away, there also seems to be other loose ends toward the end of the book.
When I read "Of Flame and Fury", I absolutely loved and adored the book. I was hoping to get the same feelings here. However, I wasn't able to find the attachment I felt in "Of Flame and Fury". I wanted more phoenix time!
Themes of trust, betrayal, love, motivation, deception, bravery, resourcefulness, and power can be found within the pages of this book. The amount of times both the protagonists could of quit and/or died speak truly on their motivation, resourcefulness, and trust in one another to survive.
Overall, I thought this book was a decent read with some room for improvement. I rate "Of Venom and Vengeance" 3 out of 5 stars. For those who enjoy romantasies with enemies-to-lovers journeying together and learning to trust one another may enjoy this read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)), and the author for giving me the opportunity to read "Of Venom and Vengeance". All opinions are my own.
BookloverBlogs17 Review Link: https://bookloverblogs17.wordpress.co...
Brave, kind, and fierce heirness Inna Pallo is the next in line to take over her mother's empire. However, all she really cares about is finding out what really happened to her deceased sister. Meanwhile, Rylan seeks both revenge from Inna's family, who murdered his family, and power. He will stop at nothing to make his goals come true, including finding the sleeping god, the Serpent King.
When the two stumble upon each other, Inna and Rylan formulate a plan and an alliance. They will help each other to find what they desire, without truly trusting one another.
Inna's world is turned upside down when the people she thought she could trust betray her, and those she didn't trust become reliable. Follow these two young adults as they journey together in an exciting and dangerous world. Also, do not forget - be aware of the sprites! They look small and harmless, but do not be fooled.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was learning about the magical creature, sprites. I have not read many books that either include and/or feature these potential lethal magical creatures and I was excited to learn more about them. I loved how they can be both sweet and loyal, but also vicious and dangerous. It was so much fun to learn that they may share magic with a human as long as the human shares his/her blood with them. The idea of hunting them for sport and being misunderstood was also a fascinating tidbit.
Told in dual perspectives, Inna and Rylan, the readers learn the inner thoughts and true feelings of both. It was easy to enjoy both characters for most of the book. Being able to understand that both felt very similar to each other and how their feelings progressed in a parallel way was neat to read. Their eventual fulfillment of the enemies-to-lovers trope was more-or-less satisfying.
I wasn't the biggest fan of a small love triangle here. Yes, Inna's previous girlfriend and her broke up, there were several moments where Inna believed they still had feelings toward one another. As a reader, it felt like they may or may not get back together. It was all unnecessary since they don't return back together. In general, it didn't seem really necessary, especially since it's one of my least favorite tropes in a book.
One of the other plot areas that felt off was the motivation for Inna to connect with Rylan in order to find out the truth about her sister's death. Though I do understand wanting to know the truth, trusting someone you don't know and risking your own severe consequences if you are caught didn't seem worth it. Never mind the fact that the beginning part of this journey in finding answers was spent in basically an archives section of a building and took way too long to get out of there.
I did enjoy the ending sequence and the plot did seem to pick up pace toward the end, which is good. However, there does seem to be some plot holes. The reader finds out who murdered Inna's sister, but it is unclear the motivation. Without giving too much away, there also seems to be other loose ends toward the end of the book.
When I read "Of Flame and Fury", I absolutely loved and adored the book. I was hoping to get the same feelings here. However, I wasn't able to find the attachment I felt in "Of Flame and Fury". I wanted more phoenix time!
Themes of trust, betrayal, love, motivation, deception, bravery, resourcefulness, and power can be found within the pages of this book. The amount of times both the protagonists could of quit and/or died speak truly on their motivation, resourcefulness, and trust in one another to survive.
Overall, I thought this book was a decent read with some room for improvement. I rate "Of Venom and Vengeance" 3 out of 5 stars. For those who enjoy romantasies with enemies-to-lovers journeying together and learning to trust one another may enjoy this read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)), and the author for giving me the opportunity to read "Of Venom and Vengeance". All opinions are my own.
BookloverBlogs17 Review Link: https://bookloverblogs17.wordpress.co...
July 22, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley the Publisher
🎧📖 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 by Mikayla Bridge
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
Inna, the polished heiress to one of the island's most powerful crime families, has spent years searching for answers surrounding her sister's suspicious death. Rylan, a gifted thief armed with illusion magic, has only one goal: infiltrate the Pallo family, awaken a forgotten god, and exact revenge. But when their paths collide, a fragile alliance quickly becomes far more dangerous than either of them expected.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝐻𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎. 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓊𝓃𝒸𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇'𝓈 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽. 𝒩𝑒𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒.
This was such an entertaining blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery.
From the very beginning, the island setting feels rich with secrets, dangerous politics, and ancient magic. The combination of crime families, illusion magic, forgotten gods, and treasure-hunt-style mythology creates a world that's easy to get lost in without becoming overwhelming.
I especially enjoyed both main characters. Inna is intelligent, calculating, and determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's death, while Rylan walks the line between ruthless and heartbreakingly loyal. Their relationship starts with plenty of distrust, hidden agendas, and undeniable chemistry, making every interaction feel layered with tension.
The mystery surrounding the Serpent King and the ancient riddle kept me hooked throughout, and I loved that the romance never overshadowed the larger plot. Instead, both storylines strengthened one another, leading to a satisfying mix of action, betrayal, and emotional payoff.
If you're looking for a Romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension, dangerous alliances, morally gray characters, and a touch of mythology, this one is definitely worth picking up.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
The audiobook beautifully balances the story's dark fantasy atmosphere with its emotionally charged romance. The narrator gives Inna a poised yet vulnerable voice that reflects the weight of her family's expectations, while Rylan's quieter intensity and simmering anger come through effortlessly. The banter, romantic tension, and action scenes all feel cinematic, and the emotional moments land with just the right amount of vulnerability. It's an engaging performance that keeps the mystery and romance equally compelling.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🐍 enemies-to-lovers
🤝 reluctant alliance
🖤 morally gray characters
✨ illusion magic
👑 crime families
🔍 murder mystery
🐉 forgotten god mythology
💎 treasure hunt
🔥 forbidden attraction
⚔️ dark fantasy romance
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 The Serpent & the Wings of Night vibes
🐍 fantasy with criminal underworlds
✨ magical heists
👑 political intrigue
❤️ slow-burn enemies to lovers
🔮 ancient gods and forgotten magic
⚔️ Romantasy with mystery
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
Readers are praising 𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 for its intriguing blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance, highlighting the chemistry between Inna and Rylan, the atmospheric island setting, and the unique mythology surrounding the Serpent King. Many also enjoyed revisiting the world introduced in 𝒪𝒻 𝐹𝓁𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐹𝓊𝓇𝓎 while appreciating that this story stands well on its own.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 is an addictive standalone Romantasy packed with secrets, betrayal, ancient magic, and slow-burning romance. Mikayla Bridge delivers an engaging adventure filled with memorable characters, immersive world-building, and just enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
🎧📖 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 by Mikayla Bridge
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
Inna, the polished heiress to one of the island's most powerful crime families, has spent years searching for answers surrounding her sister's suspicious death. Rylan, a gifted thief armed with illusion magic, has only one goal: infiltrate the Pallo family, awaken a forgotten god, and exact revenge. But when their paths collide, a fragile alliance quickly becomes far more dangerous than either of them expected.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝐻𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎. 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓊𝓃𝒸𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇'𝓈 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽. 𝒩𝑒𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒.
This was such an entertaining blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery.
From the very beginning, the island setting feels rich with secrets, dangerous politics, and ancient magic. The combination of crime families, illusion magic, forgotten gods, and treasure-hunt-style mythology creates a world that's easy to get lost in without becoming overwhelming.
I especially enjoyed both main characters. Inna is intelligent, calculating, and determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's death, while Rylan walks the line between ruthless and heartbreakingly loyal. Their relationship starts with plenty of distrust, hidden agendas, and undeniable chemistry, making every interaction feel layered with tension.
The mystery surrounding the Serpent King and the ancient riddle kept me hooked throughout, and I loved that the romance never overshadowed the larger plot. Instead, both storylines strengthened one another, leading to a satisfying mix of action, betrayal, and emotional payoff.
If you're looking for a Romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension, dangerous alliances, morally gray characters, and a touch of mythology, this one is definitely worth picking up.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
The audiobook beautifully balances the story's dark fantasy atmosphere with its emotionally charged romance. The narrator gives Inna a poised yet vulnerable voice that reflects the weight of her family's expectations, while Rylan's quieter intensity and simmering anger come through effortlessly. The banter, romantic tension, and action scenes all feel cinematic, and the emotional moments land with just the right amount of vulnerability. It's an engaging performance that keeps the mystery and romance equally compelling.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🐍 enemies-to-lovers
🤝 reluctant alliance
🖤 morally gray characters
✨ illusion magic
👑 crime families
🔍 murder mystery
🐉 forgotten god mythology
💎 treasure hunt
🔥 forbidden attraction
⚔️ dark fantasy romance
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 The Serpent & the Wings of Night vibes
🐍 fantasy with criminal underworlds
✨ magical heists
👑 political intrigue
❤️ slow-burn enemies to lovers
🔮 ancient gods and forgotten magic
⚔️ Romantasy with mystery
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
Readers are praising 𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 for its intriguing blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance, highlighting the chemistry between Inna and Rylan, the atmospheric island setting, and the unique mythology surrounding the Serpent King. Many also enjoyed revisiting the world introduced in 𝒪𝒻 𝐹𝓁𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐹𝓊𝓇𝓎 while appreciating that this story stands well on its own.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒪𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 is an addictive standalone Romantasy packed with secrets, betrayal, ancient magic, and slow-burning romance. Mikayla Bridge delivers an engaging adventure filled with memorable characters, immersive world-building, and just enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Look, if you give your thief illusion magic, I'm going to eat it up every time.
Of Venom and Vengeance is a YA romantic fantasy standalone set in the same universe as Of Flame and Fury, but instead of phoenix racing, it's gambling dens, evil crystal fairies, and a Serpent King who might not be a myth. I went into this fairly blind (I apparently didn't read the description before I requested the ARC because I thought it was a sequel to Of Flame and Fury...it is not, and there are no significant crossovers), and I honestly think I enjoyed it a bit more. The worldbuilding could be a bit vague at times - I'm not sure I 100% understand how the sprites could be kept in vials - I really liked it. Elemental magic is taken from sprites, who aren't as harmless as everyone believes them to be. There's also illusion magic, which is always one of my favorites, especially when it belongs to a thief.
Inna is the heiress of a notorious crime family on a desperate search for the truth behind her sister's death. Rylan is a thief bent on breaking into the Pallo family vault so he can find the Serpent King and destroy his enemies once and for all. When Inna and Rylan's paths align, it seems they might be able to help each other, but their alliance won't come without a cost. There's plenty of action, intrigue, and mystery. I really enjoyed the mini heist plots scattered throughout; they were unexpected but delightful. I will admit I thought there was a little too much plot armor at times, but I was still on the edge of my seat for most of the book. This is a standalone, and although it does leave the potential for these characters to appear elsewhere, their story is concluded here. The resolution was a bit rushed and convenient, which is why I'm hoping the author chooses to expand their story further, but it's still mostly satisfying. Also, I think the plot twists were much more foreshadowed than they were in Of Flame and Fury. I liked that I was able to call them, but if you're the kind of person who likes to be completely thrown off by twists, you might not enjoy this one as much.
Thief x Wealthy Heiress will always be one of the most entertaining pairings. Inna is a wealthy heiress to a crime family, so she's become a bit jaded over the years...but that won't stop her from fighting to find the truth about her sister. I thought she was neat, although her obliviousness did get on my nerves on occasion. She's tough but still finds space to be kind, and I appreciated the mystery aspect of her subplot. Rylan was always going to be a favorite because, as I've said, thieves with illusion magic are peak character design. He's the perfect blend of sarcastic and stubborn with a depressing backstory. Their romance felt well-developed and natural for the most part (I say for the most part because there's one scene that made me mad), and I enjoyed the tension between them. I didn't care much for Celesse, Inna's former lover, just because she third-wheeled a little too hard. She's morally grey - as most of these characters are - and I think I'd appreciate her more on a reread. The antagonists were fine; I didn't find any of them particularly malicious, but still enjoyed the conflict they created. Inna and Rylan's banter was really what made this book even more fun to read.
Of Venom and Vengeance is a YA romantic fantasy standalone that mixes the vibes of Amanda Foody's Ace of Shades with the character dynamics of Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
Of Venom and Vengeance is a YA romantic fantasy standalone set in the same universe as Of Flame and Fury, but instead of phoenix racing, it's gambling dens, evil crystal fairies, and a Serpent King who might not be a myth. I went into this fairly blind (I apparently didn't read the description before I requested the ARC because I thought it was a sequel to Of Flame and Fury...it is not, and there are no significant crossovers), and I honestly think I enjoyed it a bit more. The worldbuilding could be a bit vague at times - I'm not sure I 100% understand how the sprites could be kept in vials - I really liked it. Elemental magic is taken from sprites, who aren't as harmless as everyone believes them to be. There's also illusion magic, which is always one of my favorites, especially when it belongs to a thief.
Inna is the heiress of a notorious crime family on a desperate search for the truth behind her sister's death. Rylan is a thief bent on breaking into the Pallo family vault so he can find the Serpent King and destroy his enemies once and for all. When Inna and Rylan's paths align, it seems they might be able to help each other, but their alliance won't come without a cost. There's plenty of action, intrigue, and mystery. I really enjoyed the mini heist plots scattered throughout; they were unexpected but delightful. I will admit I thought there was a little too much plot armor at times, but I was still on the edge of my seat for most of the book. This is a standalone, and although it does leave the potential for these characters to appear elsewhere, their story is concluded here. The resolution was a bit rushed and convenient, which is why I'm hoping the author chooses to expand their story further, but it's still mostly satisfying. Also, I think the plot twists were much more foreshadowed than they were in Of Flame and Fury. I liked that I was able to call them, but if you're the kind of person who likes to be completely thrown off by twists, you might not enjoy this one as much.
Thief x Wealthy Heiress will always be one of the most entertaining pairings. Inna is a wealthy heiress to a crime family, so she's become a bit jaded over the years...but that won't stop her from fighting to find the truth about her sister. I thought she was neat, although her obliviousness did get on my nerves on occasion. She's tough but still finds space to be kind, and I appreciated the mystery aspect of her subplot. Rylan was always going to be a favorite because, as I've said, thieves with illusion magic are peak character design. He's the perfect blend of sarcastic and stubborn with a depressing backstory. Their romance felt well-developed and natural for the most part (I say for the most part because there's one scene that made me mad), and I enjoyed the tension between them. I didn't care much for Celesse, Inna's former lover, just because she third-wheeled a little too hard. She's morally grey - as most of these characters are - and I think I'd appreciate her more on a reread. The antagonists were fine; I didn't find any of them particularly malicious, but still enjoyed the conflict they created. Inna and Rylan's banter was really what made this book even more fun to read.
Of Venom and Vengeance is a YA romantic fantasy standalone that mixes the vibes of Amanda Foody's Ace of Shades with the character dynamics of Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farra, Straus and Giroux, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to listen to/read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'll be honest, I really enjoyed Bridge's first book in this world. I thought this was it's follow up when I requested it but then when I started it, I realized it definitely is not a follow up. I kept searching for a connection to the first story or for the same characters but they were not there. It was only when I went back to read the synopsis that I realized it is a story set in that world. I'm not sure of the timeline of this story compared with the first book but you don't see any reference at all to things from the first story. And, while it may be the same world, it didn't truly feel that way to me. Even without them, though, I really enjoyed this book and it's story.
The audio narrator, Safiyya Inger, did a fantastic job. Her voice was easy to listen to and she told the story well from both Inna Pallo and Ryland's perspectives. Her cadence was easy to follow. I did listen to the first book in this series, so I am familiar with her voice.
Bridge does a great job building out this world in regards to Sprites. Since this was a totally different element than the first book, it needed to be thorough and I think she did a pretty good job with it. I liked the idea of how the magic was harnessed and what it meant to have the sprites around. I also liked the secrets that surrounded the creatures and their magic. There are no info dumps in the book but the world is revealed slowly and carefeully.
Inna Pallo is the daughter in a crime family. She doesn't have many secrets of her own but her family certainly does. They have done unspeakable things in the name of keeping their power. This is slowly revealed to her throughout the story and becomes especially prevalent when she meets Ryland. He's got his own secrets, ones he doesn't really want Inna to know. But as they grow closer, he realizes he will need to reveal things to her if he is to keep her in his life. Bridge really develops the main characters well. You easily feel their emotions and what they are going through. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters.
I will say I didn't feel the chemistry between Ryland and Inna as much as I would have liked to. I needed a bit more of a build up to their romance. It seemed a little too convenient for her to fall for her enemy and vice versa. And Inna's involvement with Celssese, one of her family's guards, seemed complicated. I thought for sure there was still some lingering attraction there but but then Inna kind of brushes it aside very easily. The romance part of this story is kind of background noise, though, compared to the overall plot of the story.
Bridge keeps her pacing very quick, Her chapters are short and I found myself turning the pages quickly to see what happened. The last 25% is full of action and movement. I wish I could have read it all in one sitting instead of having to break it up! The betrayal is a huge part of this story. You never truly know who to trust, to be honest. Those you thought were allies become enemies very quickly.
Bridge leaves this story pretty open (as she did with the first book in this world). It wraps up but there is definitely room for more to come. I'm hoping she will continue with these characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this one once I realized I would not see anyone or anything from the first story (I still need more from those characters).
4.5/5 stars rounded to 5
I'll be honest, I really enjoyed Bridge's first book in this world. I thought this was it's follow up when I requested it but then when I started it, I realized it definitely is not a follow up. I kept searching for a connection to the first story or for the same characters but they were not there. It was only when I went back to read the synopsis that I realized it is a story set in that world. I'm not sure of the timeline of this story compared with the first book but you don't see any reference at all to things from the first story. And, while it may be the same world, it didn't truly feel that way to me. Even without them, though, I really enjoyed this book and it's story.
The audio narrator, Safiyya Inger, did a fantastic job. Her voice was easy to listen to and she told the story well from both Inna Pallo and Ryland's perspectives. Her cadence was easy to follow. I did listen to the first book in this series, so I am familiar with her voice.
Bridge does a great job building out this world in regards to Sprites. Since this was a totally different element than the first book, it needed to be thorough and I think she did a pretty good job with it. I liked the idea of how the magic was harnessed and what it meant to have the sprites around. I also liked the secrets that surrounded the creatures and their magic. There are no info dumps in the book but the world is revealed slowly and carefeully.
Inna Pallo is the daughter in a crime family. She doesn't have many secrets of her own but her family certainly does. They have done unspeakable things in the name of keeping their power. This is slowly revealed to her throughout the story and becomes especially prevalent when she meets Ryland. He's got his own secrets, ones he doesn't really want Inna to know. But as they grow closer, he realizes he will need to reveal things to her if he is to keep her in his life. Bridge really develops the main characters well. You easily feel their emotions and what they are going through. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters.
I will say I didn't feel the chemistry between Ryland and Inna as much as I would have liked to. I needed a bit more of a build up to their romance. It seemed a little too convenient for her to fall for her enemy and vice versa. And Inna's involvement with Celssese, one of her family's guards, seemed complicated. I thought for sure there was still some lingering attraction there but but then Inna kind of brushes it aside very easily. The romance part of this story is kind of background noise, though, compared to the overall plot of the story.
Bridge keeps her pacing very quick, Her chapters are short and I found myself turning the pages quickly to see what happened. The last 25% is full of action and movement. I wish I could have read it all in one sitting instead of having to break it up! The betrayal is a huge part of this story. You never truly know who to trust, to be honest. Those you thought were allies become enemies very quickly.
Bridge leaves this story pretty open (as she did with the first book in this world). It wraps up but there is definitely room for more to come. I'm hoping she will continue with these characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this one once I realized I would not see anyone or anything from the first story (I still need more from those characters).
4.5/5 stars rounded to 5
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received an advance copy from Goodreads giveaways.
This is a follow-up to Of Flame and Fury, which I did not read. It definitely stands on its own, without any prior context on the world or events of the first book. I received this copy yesterday and I've already finished it, so that's telling on my enjoyment.
The world-building is exquisitely thought out, from all the little details mentioned about the aspects of every day life and how everyone who lives there is used to it and intertwined in the elements -- the main one being the sprites, in this story. Reading on all the ways sprites existed in the world, or how they were utilized, really helped to bring the story to life and make the society feel lived-in. This is apparent from the very first chapter.
There is a map of the regions, which is always appreciated. Though most of the story takes place in Ascira, looking at the map when the characters traveled helped communicate the differences. Same goes for the little excerpts on sprites and past letters that were sprinkled throughout -- not exactly enough to make the reader know more than the characters, but enough to immerse you into the story and see the world as they do.
The story centers on the action, plot, and environment more than the romance, which I definitely appreciate. The romance doesn't feel forced, but some part of me wishes it went a little more in-depth to accentuate the tension. As it stands, the story is fast-paced, and there's always something to latch on to with every page.
I didn't particularly enjoy how Inna, the female lead, was acting in the first chapter. The story sets her up as this heiress who knows her way around the mission she is doing, who is familiar with the setting and even knows she doesn't need to hide because of it. But her movements are sloppy, and she's annoyed at being called out for it--so much so, that she's in a mood when she arrives back. The rest of the story doesn't feel that way--even though there are times when she is smart and times when she is confused or even naive, you can understand it based on her position and her personality. That's my only comment on that.
The characters are forced to work together initially due to their motives -- one for knowledge, and one for vengeance. For me personally, the reveal of the truth for the former was expected and not a surprise. As for the vengeance...well, it's a romance story so I feel like every reader already foresees how that goes. Other elements in the story are foreshadowed, so you can have ideas for how the story will fold--this is not a story with many plot twists. Even so, it was an enjoyable read and I will be keeping this in my library.
This is a follow-up to Of Flame and Fury, which I did not read. It definitely stands on its own, without any prior context on the world or events of the first book. I received this copy yesterday and I've already finished it, so that's telling on my enjoyment.
The world-building is exquisitely thought out, from all the little details mentioned about the aspects of every day life and how everyone who lives there is used to it and intertwined in the elements -- the main one being the sprites, in this story. Reading on all the ways sprites existed in the world, or how they were utilized, really helped to bring the story to life and make the society feel lived-in. This is apparent from the very first chapter.
There is a map of the regions, which is always appreciated. Though most of the story takes place in Ascira, looking at the map when the characters traveled helped communicate the differences. Same goes for the little excerpts on sprites and past letters that were sprinkled throughout -- not exactly enough to make the reader know more than the characters, but enough to immerse you into the story and see the world as they do.
The story centers on the action, plot, and environment more than the romance, which I definitely appreciate. The romance doesn't feel forced, but some part of me wishes it went a little more in-depth to accentuate the tension. As it stands, the story is fast-paced, and there's always something to latch on to with every page.
I didn't particularly enjoy how Inna, the female lead, was acting in the first chapter. The story sets her up as this heiress who knows her way around the mission she is doing, who is familiar with the setting and even knows she doesn't need to hide because of it. But her movements are sloppy, and she's annoyed at being called out for it--so much so, that she's in a mood when she arrives back. The rest of the story doesn't feel that way--even though there are times when she is smart and times when she is confused or even naive, you can understand it based on her position and her personality. That's my only comment on that.
The characters are forced to work together initially due to their motives -- one for knowledge, and one for vengeance. For me personally, the reveal of the truth for the former was expected and not a surprise. As for the vengeance...well, it's a romance story so I feel like every reader already foresees how that goes. Other elements in the story are foreshadowed, so you can have ideas for how the story will fold--this is not a story with many plot twists. Even so, it was an enjoyable read and I will be keeping this in my library.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fascinating sprite lore overshadowed by a rushed ending.
One of the biggest strengths was its focus on sprites. They're not creatures I see often in fantasy, and I loved how much thought went into their appearance, different types of magic, personalities, and lifestyles. Like many magical beings in fantasy, they're hunted, captured, exploited, and killed, with their magic harvested to grant temporary abilities to humans. It was a unique concept that made the world stand out.
The sprite trade is at the center of Inna's family's power. For generations they've controlled the trade while keeping the true nature of sprites hidden from the rest of the world, and they'll do absolutely anything to maintain that control. As the family's heir, Inna is trained in combat, torture, manipulation, and political maneuvering, all while being closely monitored by her ruthless mother and uncle. The emotional (sometimes physical) abuse and control they exert over her is incredibly frustrating to watch, especially since even her closest friend/ex is assigned as her bodyguard, making escape nearly impossible. Still, Inna is determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's death, even if it means risking everything.
Rylan is a thief with his own magical abilities whose greatest enemy is Inna's family. His goal is to strip them of their power, which leads him into an uneasy alliance with Inna as they steal and search for the legendary Serpent King. Rylan remains something of a mystery, and I enjoyed slowly learning more about him alongside Inna. As their partnership develops, he struggles with whether he can continue seeing her as the enemy or if his growing feelings will change everything.
The romance follows a classic enemies-to-lovers, star-crossed, slow-burn formula. Their banter and sparring were enjoyable, and the forced proximity gave their relationship room to grow naturally. Since this is YA, the romance stays firmly PG-13, but I still found their connection believable.
Where the book lost me was the pacing. There wasn't enough action throughout most of the story to keep me fully invested. Much of the novel revolves around family drama, secrets, and planning for the eventual adventure. The momentum finally picked up during the last quarter when the hunt for the Serpent King began, but it felt rushed. I would have loved to spend more time on the adventure itself and to see more of the aftermath once everything was resolved. While the story tied up its loose ends, I still felt somewhat unfulfilled, especially for a standalone fantasy that had so much potential to explore its fascinating world.
One of the biggest strengths was its focus on sprites. They're not creatures I see often in fantasy, and I loved how much thought went into their appearance, different types of magic, personalities, and lifestyles. Like many magical beings in fantasy, they're hunted, captured, exploited, and killed, with their magic harvested to grant temporary abilities to humans. It was a unique concept that made the world stand out.
The sprite trade is at the center of Inna's family's power. For generations they've controlled the trade while keeping the true nature of sprites hidden from the rest of the world, and they'll do absolutely anything to maintain that control. As the family's heir, Inna is trained in combat, torture, manipulation, and political maneuvering, all while being closely monitored by her ruthless mother and uncle. The emotional (sometimes physical) abuse and control they exert over her is incredibly frustrating to watch, especially since even her closest friend/ex is assigned as her bodyguard, making escape nearly impossible. Still, Inna is determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's death, even if it means risking everything.
Rylan is a thief with his own magical abilities whose greatest enemy is Inna's family. His goal is to strip them of their power, which leads him into an uneasy alliance with Inna as they steal and search for the legendary Serpent King. Rylan remains something of a mystery, and I enjoyed slowly learning more about him alongside Inna. As their partnership develops, he struggles with whether he can continue seeing her as the enemy or if his growing feelings will change everything.
The romance follows a classic enemies-to-lovers, star-crossed, slow-burn formula. Their banter and sparring were enjoyable, and the forced proximity gave their relationship room to grow naturally. Since this is YA, the romance stays firmly PG-13, but I still found their connection believable.
Where the book lost me was the pacing. There wasn't enough action throughout most of the story to keep me fully invested. Much of the novel revolves around family drama, secrets, and planning for the eventual adventure. The momentum finally picked up during the last quarter when the hunt for the Serpent King began, but it felt rushed. I would have loved to spend more time on the adventure itself and to see more of the aftermath once everything was resolved. While the story tied up its loose ends, I still felt somewhat unfulfilled, especially for a standalone fantasy that had so much potential to explore its fascinating world.
July 7, 2026
✨ALC Review✨ - 2.5 ⭐️
I really wanted to like this because the premise had so much potential, but unfortunately the execution just wasn’t there for me.
My biggest issue was the pacing. I went in expecting an action-packed fantasy centered around the journey to find the Serpent King, but instead, most of the book focuses on preparing for the journey. In the grand scheme of things, it felt like very little actually happened for the majority of the story. At first, I thought maybe the slow pace was because this was the first book in a series and the author was laying the groundwork for future installments, but it’s a standalone. That made the drawn-out setup even more frustrating, and I honestly think the book could have been significantly shorter.
Then, when we finally did get to the action, it felt like it was over almost as soon as it began. After spending so much time building up to the journey, I expected a much bigger payoff. Instead, the action lasted what felt like a single chapter, answered very few questions, and then the story was over. The ending almost read like it was setting up a sequel rather than wrapping up a standalone, so I was left feeling unsatisfied.
The romance didn’t work for me either, but I think that was also a pacing issue. I never felt like Ina and Rylan actually spent enough meaningful time together for their relationship to develop naturally. Their first kiss came completely out of nowhere because there hadn’t been enough tension, chemistry, or even consistent interaction leading up to it. Later, when it’s revealed that he’s in love with her, I just couldn’t believe it. Even though a month technically passes before the journey begins, it never felt like that much time had gone by. Their relationship still felt brand new, and I never bought the emotional connection.
The fantasy elements also ended up feeling underdeveloped. Before the final quarter of the book, the sprites were really the only magical element that played a significant role, and even they became a little confusing without being particularly interesting. I kept waiting for the world and the stakes to expand, but they never really did.
Overall, this book felt like it was missing something in every area. The fantasy wasn’t adventurous enough, the romance lacked chemistry, tension, and banter, and the action arrived far too late to make up for the slow beginning. It’s disappointing because the premise had everything I normally look for, but the execution never lived up to its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this one early.
I really wanted to like this because the premise had so much potential, but unfortunately the execution just wasn’t there for me.
My biggest issue was the pacing. I went in expecting an action-packed fantasy centered around the journey to find the Serpent King, but instead, most of the book focuses on preparing for the journey. In the grand scheme of things, it felt like very little actually happened for the majority of the story. At first, I thought maybe the slow pace was because this was the first book in a series and the author was laying the groundwork for future installments, but it’s a standalone. That made the drawn-out setup even more frustrating, and I honestly think the book could have been significantly shorter.
Then, when we finally did get to the action, it felt like it was over almost as soon as it began. After spending so much time building up to the journey, I expected a much bigger payoff. Instead, the action lasted what felt like a single chapter, answered very few questions, and then the story was over. The ending almost read like it was setting up a sequel rather than wrapping up a standalone, so I was left feeling unsatisfied.
The romance didn’t work for me either, but I think that was also a pacing issue. I never felt like Ina and Rylan actually spent enough meaningful time together for their relationship to develop naturally. Their first kiss came completely out of nowhere because there hadn’t been enough tension, chemistry, or even consistent interaction leading up to it. Later, when it’s revealed that he’s in love with her, I just couldn’t believe it. Even though a month technically passes before the journey begins, it never felt like that much time had gone by. Their relationship still felt brand new, and I never bought the emotional connection.
The fantasy elements also ended up feeling underdeveloped. Before the final quarter of the book, the sprites were really the only magical element that played a significant role, and even they became a little confusing without being particularly interesting. I kept waiting for the world and the stakes to expand, but they never really did.
Overall, this book felt like it was missing something in every area. The fantasy wasn’t adventurous enough, the romance lacked chemistry, tension, and banter, and the action arrived far too late to make up for the slow beginning. It’s disappointing because the premise had everything I normally look for, but the execution never lived up to its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this one early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️s! | I love Mikayla Bridge’s writing style, so I’ll definitely pick up whatever she writes next, but in this book’s case, my biggest issue was it being a standalone. Yes, it’s the same world as Of Flame and Fury, but my issue with standalones (especially fantasy standalones) is that I’m never left satisfied by the conclusion. Returning to this world was easy, even with a completely new cast of characters. I just wanted more from the story, the characters, the romance, and the ending. Of Venom and Vengeance is full of crime family politics, illusion magic, ancient gods, and a mystery that kept me interested and kept me reading. I just wanted more than it gave.
The strongest part of the story was the mystery and suspense. Between Inna’s search for the truth behind her sister’s death and Rylan’s quest for revenge, there was always another secret waiting to be uncovered. I especially enjoyed the morally gray cast of characters, and almost everyone seemed to have their own agenda, which kept me second-guessing who could actually be trusted.
Rylan was easily my favorite character. An illusion-wielding thief is already a winning combination, and his determination, wit, and emotional vulnerability made him the standout for me. His dynamic with Inna had plenty of tension, and I appreciated that their enemies-to-lovers arc was built on genuine conflict rather than simple misunderstandings. That said, I never fully connected with the romance on an emotional level. While the banter and chemistry were there, I found myself wanting more depth to truly believe in their relationship. The worldbuilding was intriguing, but there were moments where I wished certain aspects of the magic and lore had been explored further. The ending also wrapped up quicker than expected, leaving me wanting a little more time for the emotional payoff to land.
Overall, Of Venom and Vengeance is an entertaining YA fantasy filled with dangerous magic, family secrets, revenge, and plenty of twists. While I didn’t fall completely in love with every aspect of the story, it was a fast-paced read with an engaging mystery and characters that kept me invested (for the most part). If you’re looking for morally gray protagonists, crime family intrigue, and an enemies-to-lovers romance set against a dark fantasy backdrop, this is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC!
The strongest part of the story was the mystery and suspense. Between Inna’s search for the truth behind her sister’s death and Rylan’s quest for revenge, there was always another secret waiting to be uncovered. I especially enjoyed the morally gray cast of characters, and almost everyone seemed to have their own agenda, which kept me second-guessing who could actually be trusted.
Rylan was easily my favorite character. An illusion-wielding thief is already a winning combination, and his determination, wit, and emotional vulnerability made him the standout for me. His dynamic with Inna had plenty of tension, and I appreciated that their enemies-to-lovers arc was built on genuine conflict rather than simple misunderstandings. That said, I never fully connected with the romance on an emotional level. While the banter and chemistry were there, I found myself wanting more depth to truly believe in their relationship. The worldbuilding was intriguing, but there were moments where I wished certain aspects of the magic and lore had been explored further. The ending also wrapped up quicker than expected, leaving me wanting a little more time for the emotional payoff to land.
Overall, Of Venom and Vengeance is an entertaining YA fantasy filled with dangerous magic, family secrets, revenge, and plenty of twists. While I didn’t fall completely in love with every aspect of the story, it was a fast-paced read with an engaging mystery and characters that kept me invested (for the most part). If you’re looking for morally gray protagonists, crime family intrigue, and an enemies-to-lovers romance set against a dark fantasy backdrop, this is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC!
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